Jackson earns American Music Awards nods

Taylor Swift tops nominations with six nods

Michael Jackson was posthumously nominated Tuesday for artist of the year honors by the American Music Awards.

Late singer is competing with Lady Gaga, Eminem, Kings of Leon and Taylor Swift for the top prize. He is also competing against Eminem and T.I. in the favorite male artist category. AMAs ceremony will be televised Nov. 22 on ABC.

As the marketing push on the Jackson concert docu and soundtrack album began this week, it emerged late Monday that the Jackson single “This Is It” was actually an older composition, originally known as “I Never Heard.”

Co-authored by Jackson and veteran songwriter-vocalist Paul Anka for an unrealized ’80s duet project by the musicians, the song was released in 1991 by Latin vocalist Sa-Fire.

Jackson’s estate quickly issued a mea culpa to Anka for leaving his name off the song and awarded the tunesmith 50% of the “This Is It” copyright.